Category: A Faith in Process

When sin takes over a nation, the end result is always confusion. Anger, accusation, and lust for control becomes the order of the day.Servanthood gives way to the desire to dominate.Sadly, democracy falls to dictatorship.There is only one way out.PRAY!Carter Conlon *** I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God…

The instructions are clear: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV *** *** Gracious God, we come before You today, with contrite hearts and willing…

As we approached Lent this year and I considered how to “celebrate” it, I found myself grieving the anger and hatred dividing our country and the overwhelming suffering and despair throughout our world. Wars, famines, disease outbreaks around the world: all hurting people God loves. Deportations, abrupt firings, outrage, ridicule and derision, all being done…

Ashes. Ashes and dust. A reminder. *** By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eatuntil you return to the ground from which you were made.For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19 NLT *** Ashes and dust. Messy. Symbolizing the messy emotions of grief and repentance. *** I…

Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.Matthew 5:9 NIV *** In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.Henri Nouwen *** “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are…

Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.Matthew 5:8 NIV *** A pure heart is one that is unencumbered, unworried, uncommitted and which does not want its own way about anything but which, rather, is submerged in the loving will of God.Meister Eckhart *** “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those…

Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Matthew 5:7 NIV *** Just having an awareness of God’s mercy and compassion for us is a great motivation for us to be merciful and compassionate to other people and to take steps toward encountering God.Jonathan Morris *** They are blessed who show mercy to others,    for God…

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.Matthew 5:6 NIV *** That Christ has from the beginning been intending to point His hearers to Himself as the source of all spiritual life is plain from the language He uses. The hunger and thirst that He satisfies is not physical hunger…

Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth.Matthew 5:5 NIV *** To be meek means to show willingness to submit and work under proper authority. It also shows a willingness to disregard one’s own “rights” and privileges. It is one thing for me to admit my own spiritual bankruptcy, but what if someone else does it…

Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.Matthew 5:4-5 NIV *** MOURNING, in addition to anguish in response to personal loss, includes broken heartedness over our failures and disobedience, sorrow over the state of the world, and deep grief over sin and its effects. Our comfort in all this sorrow is knowing that our…